Regional Cinema dominates in 64th National Film Awards

Kasaav (Turtle), a Marathi film directed by Sumitra Bhave and Sunil Sukhtankar bagged the best film award as regional cinema dominated across the categories at the National Film Awards held today.

The makers of Kasaav told Reuters ,”It is poetic justice that this award has been announced on World Health Day. We need to talk about depression and mental health just as often as we talk about physical health.”

Akshay Kumar, who won Best Actor award for Rustom and Sonam Kapoor, who was given a special mention for Neerja, were among the few from Bollywood who made it to the final list.

Surabhi Lakshmi won the best actress award for her performance in the Malayalam film Minnaminugu (Firefly), while Rajesh Mapuskar won the best director award for his film Ventilator, a Marathi film about a community that rallies around an ailing village elder.

Pink was given Best Film on Social Issues. The film is predominantly a courtroom drama and triggered a fresh discussion on women’s safety issues.

Dhanak, the tale of two children who set out into the Rajasthan desert in search of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor was given Best Children’s Film.